PR Tips & Trends

Knowledge is power. And the power of our combined leadership experience and communications industry know-how makes PRGN one of the top PR resources in the world. Let us share some of our insights with you.

Public relations is typically defined a set of actions aimed at creating and maintaining a good image of a person, a company or any organization. The image can be built for the general public (consumers, clients, investors, public institutions, social organizations, etc.) and also for an organization’s own staff (internal communications). In light of the … Read More

Don’t expect a big surprise when reading our answer to this question: No, a formal certificate of any kind of curriculum is definitely not necessary to work and survive in PR – as many agency owners, pr managers and employees without a degree can tell you from their experience. But having said this, of course, … Read More

The Castle Group expands and adds its Atlanta, Georgia team to PRGN; Mileage Communications grows its presence and adds its New Delhi, India location into the network NEW YORK – January 15, 2019– The Public Relations Global Network (PRGN) announced today that it has added two new locations to its global network, raising the number … Read More

So, how do you keep an eye on your competitors? One of the best and easiest ways to keep watch is to audit your competitors’ communications. It requires you (or your agency) to keep an eye on (as well as an ear out) for what they are saying. The right places to look and listen … Read More

Nowadays, PR is much more than media relations, press releases or launch events. PR becomes a modern combination of classical and new communication trends – integrated, 360 degree PR strategy including visuals, digital solutions, and, of course, blogging. Blogs fit the taste of those who are looking for interesting pieces of news, non-traditional recommendations or … Read More

Here some ways to end 2018 on a high note. Publish your end-of-the-year report. Share your 2018 successes with your clients and staff. Provide a Share of Voice report to display how your efforts compared to Brand X. What other tracking will your client appreciate? Provide it. Pursue that elusive media outlet. So your client … Read More

It’s that time of year. We’re all finishing up the current year while looking towards the future, gazing into our all-knowing crystal balls. And in our industry, that means looking at what’s in store for the field of public relations in 2019. I took the liberty of asking my friends and colleagues at the Public … Read More

Podcast: Play in new window | Download In this episode of the PRGN Leadership Roundtable blog series of “Ten Questions,” we mix it up by bringing you an audio interview between Bradly Howland of HWB Communications in Cape Town, South Africa and Paul Konrardy of Evans Larson Communications in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Bradly shares the glories of Cape Town … Read More

As the end of 2018 quickly approaches, it has become more important than ever for Public Relations agencies to be available at anytime, anywhere, and devoted to the ultimate success of their clients, no matter what it takes. But, in this day and age, what does it take? What makes a PR agency stand out … Read More

Name: Márk Németh Title: Head of Consumer PRGN Agency: Goodwill Communications Years at your agency: 7 Why did you choose to enter PR? I was working as a journalist at a print business daily when the world financial crisis hit. The editorial staff shrank and I found I had less time for the part of … Read More

A murmur has begun to rise about the decline of the public relations industry in Turkey. Agencies are losing blood, teams are getting cut in half, and revenues are plummeting. There are question marks lingering in the Turkish economy, including the rise in currency exchange prices and the potential outcome of elections. The fundamental problem … Read More

Nobody is more strongly positioned to create long-term, sustainable change than companies. According to a 2016 PwC Global CEO survey, 64% of CEOs say that “corporate social responsibility (CSR) is core to their business rather than being a stand-alone program.” The Survey interviewed 1,409 CEOs in 83 countries with 76% defining business success by more … Read More

When watching somebody present in front of an audience, it takes just a few seconds to determine if this is going to be a compelling and interesting presentation or a boring waste of time. But once you’re standing in the spotlight yourself, it is up to you to make a difference. And here’s how to: … Read More

Hiring any consultant is a difficult task. How do you find one that will mesh with your company culture and values? What about the budget? How can you measure results? With public relations, it can be even more difficult, given most people struggle with the intangible aspect of our industry. That said, there are ways … Read More

Today’s media landscape is becoming increasingly dominated and disrupted by digital. It’s everywhere you turn. On the way to work, while eating breakfast and even when we’re with friends, we are constantly absorbing digital media and the endless amount of information technology provides. Blogging is a highly-effective content marketing tool; it is no longer a … Read More

When it comes to launching a new product or service, success isn’t defined by whether or not you launch “on time.” Many mistakes can be avoided by slowing down, thinking through the entire campaign strategically and ensuring all ducks are in a row before pontificating your news to the world. Here are four key things … Read More

The popularity of influencer marketing has exploded in recent years. Common belief is that the influencers‘ opinions can shape the perceptions of their followers. Though marketing campaigns constantly change, the followers‘ faith and trust in the influencer remains consistent. Online customers are known to trust the recommendation of individuals within their network or social circle. … Read More

Social media is a very powerful tool for business. It is a platform for businesses to showcase their strengths and build a community of followers. Unfortunately, that same power can translate to major damage in the event of a crisis. Social media gives publicity issues the fuel to escalate to a full crisis in mere … Read More

We came from a world where selling a product or service was all about how you positioned yourself and how you ‘sold’ your company, through advertising, marketing and PR where you told people what you thought they should know about your product. It was really all about you and how good you were. Now we … Read More

Artificial intelligence is not science fiction anymore. AI is here, and it’s probably part of your daily life. In fact, when you search the web at any time from any device, whether you’re typing into a browser or talking to Siri, you are interacting with AI. Search engines use AI to deliver the best results … Read More

The use of influencers is now a crucial element in every communications and PR agency. Over the latest years, influencer marketing has won the trust of consultants and their customers, but as with most trends, we run the risk of underestimating its complexity. “She has 70k followers on Instagram. How can’t she be perfect?” When … Read More

There used to be a way to reach your target market with just a few touch points. Send out a press release. Produce an event. Sponsor a program. According to the Online Marketing Institute, it now takes 7-13 touches to reach a potential customer. Today’s consumers are immune to traditional marketing, PR and advertising strategies. … Read More

Public relations has long been a powerful marketing tool for companies. In today’s digital environment, its impact is greater than ever. Here are nine reasons why every company should be investing in PR: 1. Allows a company to own and manage its narrative. Companies that fail to invest in PR are essentially ceding their narrative … Read More

Nearly 3 years after the VW emissions scandal broke worldwide, the CEO of VW-owned Audi is arrested for fraud, false advertising and hindering the investigation by German authorities. The first rule of crisis communications is to end the crisis and on something of this scale, that means untainted leadership and a willingness to right the … Read More

The Peace Summit between President Donald Trump of USA and Chairman Kim Jong Un of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea held at The Capella Hotel on Sentosa Island concluded on 12 June. The historic meeting was considered a success, as both parties agreed to meet further to work out the details for a permanent … Read More

Name: Kent Barrett Title: Vice President PRGN agency: The Hoyt Organization Location: Los Angeles, USA Years at the agency: 9 years 1. What did you do before PR? : I was a political reporter covering the Illinois Statehouse for ABC affiliates and did a brief stint as a TV News assignment editor in Madison, Wisc. … Read More

Anthropology is a science born out of two schools of thought related to how should a social scientist study a community. One approach, widely developed by one of anthropology’s founding fathers, Bronislaw Malinowski, was the “observatory participation”. Briefly put, in order to understand a community, you should spend time inside that community and try to … Read More

As an industry, public relations has experienced our fair share of PR. Popular TV shows like “Mad Men” and “Sex and The City” have bolstered PR’s reputation as a career path lined with celebrity parties, free swag and other VIP perks. While many of us do frequently work on cool projects with major brands and … Read More

A Twitter presence, whether personal or corporate, is part of daily life in 2018. According to Hootsuite, nearly 330 million users worldwide access the platform in more than 40 different languages. Even more impressive is the number of active users: 42 percent access the app every day, while another 24 percent use Twitter weekly. That … Read More

When clients hire a public relations agency to develop a PR campaign, they typically measure its success by the number of times the story was picked up, in which publications it appeared, and how many times it was retweeted or shared. Of course, they also want to know that the story was free of errors … Read More

Popularity of influencer marketing is a rich seam for brands and PR reps but greater transparency is now needed to enhance trust and credibility, writes Owen Cullen. It seems hard to believe now but there was a brief flicker of time, quite a few years back, when people weren’t sure if social media would catch … Read More

Back some years ago when many of us were ‘spring chickens’ one of the golden rules of PR was that companies did and should not have opinions on politics because they were corporate entities and not people. A few different techniques were used, but most of the time journalists were told that individual companies did … Read More

Do you Google yourself and your company? If not, you should. Google is the first impression for anyone who doesn’t know you. It’s common for clients, customers, colleagues and even competitors to use the Internet to form their opinion of you. They want to know who is saying what? Is the information positive, negative or … Read More

The best kind of press isn’t something that you buy, but how exactly do you get free press coverage? Because the media is constantly pitching new products and services, getting noticed can be difficult. Here are three clever ways to ensure you get the media coverage you want, provided by the world’s top media relations … Read More

With earned media playing an increasingly important role in content-sharing, media relations remains a crucial element of public relations. But media pitching is highly challenging. Some surveys suggest that 95 percent of pitches never get a media response. Here are five reasons your pitches may be falling on deaf ears. 1. You didn’t do your … Read More

We’ve all seen it on the news. The spokesperson heads to the microphone, reads a statement, then begins taking questions. Then, we notice something. He or she makes a mistake. Whether your spokesperson starts speaking off-topic, becomes a “deer in the headlights” or unintentionally gives away private information, a mistake takes place. Any one of … Read More

Having been in the public relations business for nearly three decades, I’m often asked by business associates why and how to find the right PR firm for their needs. So, just like BuzzFeed, we’ve compiled some easy-to-read lists for you. My colleague Alison Bailin at PRGN’s Phoenix agency, HMA Public Relations, offers the following 10 … Read More

“Dead ones live longer” is a common phrase – and indeed, it applies also to pr. The question is not if the press release in general is dead but much more how to make it a vivid, compelling and fruitful part of your toolbox. The starting point is of course: Who should read, enjoy and … Read More

Video remains a sizzling hot medium for storytelling. Organizations of all sizes and industries are using it to tell their brand story. Some companies produce video in-house; others turn to specialized video production companies for help. But no matter how it gets produced, video benefits from adherence to best practices. Whether you’re involved in the … Read More

Different people have different interpretations of what brand building means. Sadly, many equate advertising campaigns or logo changes to branding exercises – which only scrapes the surface of holistic brand building. Instead, brands must be built enterprise wide and most importantly, inside out. Companies that fail to deliver on their brand promises will inevitably face … Read More

Social media influencers are not a new thing by any means. With the growth of platforms like Instagram and Snapchat, the term blogger has almost become a thing of the past. Why have a WordPress account that needs to be updated constantly with full length, long form posts when you can influence the masses with … Read More

For years they have been on separate paths, but since crisis is a synonym of corporate reputation, clients no longer worry about hiring a law firm when looking for a solution to their conflicts, but for several years they have understood that simultaneously they should look for someone who watches over their public image before … Read More

We live in amazing times today, we are so digitized and so technologically advanced that the beginning of my PR career 20+ years ago seems to be in another life. I remember sending press releases by fax and communicating very important issues via pagers. No mobile phones, no blogs, no Facebook, no Twitter, but a … Read More

At first glance, a product review may just seem like a bunch of words coupled with images of a product, lavishing the product with half-hearted praise and encouraging readers to buy. Is that always the case? Reviewing is about making connections between images, text, and a reader, just like any other story. I enjoy reading … Read More

In consumer public relations, we often build our annual plans around new product launches and all of the buzz – and sales – they will bring. While every new product is different, here are a few tried and true tips to make the most of any product launch campaign. 1. Plan ahead. Ideally, the PR … Read More

As PR pros, it can be difficult for us to step away from our inboxes and voicemails for time dedicated solely to professional development. It’s easy to put client needs in front of the latest webinar or online course, especially when your time is billable and there are deadlines at every turn. But public relations … Read More

Having been in the communications industry for more than 40 years, first within corporations, then in consultancy, there were many lessons gleaned along the way. These have helped me to deal with various stakeholders better and to handle PR events and activities more effectively. I hope you will find them useful. Dealing with the media … Read More

Everyone knows the best time to plan is the beginning of each year. But, the end of the year offers some unique opportunities too. How can you maximize your brand in the 4th quarter? Here are a few End-of-the-Year PR and Social Media PR Tips. 1. What is Trending? Get Brand recognition by paying attention … Read More

By writing a blog you broaden your knowledge, acquire new skills, develop your imagination and enhance vocabulary. You also become a better writer, interlocutor, an expert in your field, improve your own concentration and memory. These are advantages that nobody questions. If you do it just for yourself, your own pleasure and satisfaction of your … Read More

It is a common request from potential clients to see a Public Relations case study of work comparable to what you are recommending to them. But what exactly are they looking for? Strategy, deliverables, measurement? Of course, but how best to provide that information without overwhelming and oversharing. Case studies are a great way to … Read More

Before analyzing the results of a PR campaign, it is necessary to clarify what PR means today. The primary goal of Public Relations has always been to develop relationships, to connect institutions, companies, people and establishments with their users or their clients. What has changed over time, and has even significantly increased, are the ways … Read More

What you say can or will be held against you, should you not take up the challenge to prepare for an interview. In the digital age, everything you say lives on forever, so, preparing for an interview should not be taken lightly. You should spend enough time getting up to speed and doing the due … Read More

Company websites used to be only virtual business cards. Not anymore. With the online developing faster than everything else around, websites moved to have a sales role or shifted to a hybrid function covering both the presentation and commercial purposes. Browsing the web one can see several neat website designs and functionalities and what might … Read More

Social media is no longer the territory of the millennial. Today, consumers ranging from 14 to 65+ and beyond (to infinity!!) are active across the various platforms on a daily basis. In the current climate it wouldn’t be out of order to assume that your audience is using social media in one way or another, … Read More

Media relations is our bread and butter in the PR industry. There’s nothing better than a well-placed media hit that’s authentic, engaging and delivered directly to your target audience. But with an increasingly competitive media landscape and a growing desire by many brands to tackle multiple markets at once, honing the perfect media pitch can … Read More

Recently, Hong Kong Observatory announced a move with World Meteorological Organization (WMO) to rename four typhoons that caused human casualties and economic loss in Hong Kong and other South China Sea regions. The renaming of these typhoons was an act of rebranding, designed to raise more public awareness about the cause of the disasters, and … Read More

If you’ve never had a client ask you to lower your fees, you are one of the lucky PR professionals! For the rest of us, here are 5 tactics you can try the next time a client mentions budget cuts. Prepare facts: Many clients feel that they are paying too much because they can’t see … Read More

When it comes to public relations, the best-kept secrets are those protected by the PRSA Code of Ethics. This means PR professionals will keep proprietary information proprietary and would rather go to jail before disclosing business secrets. Now, here are three secrets. Each of these secrets assumes you have an excellent relationship with the media. … Read More

The debate between the DIY model vs. in-house vs. hiring a PR agency Anytime a company expands their marketing outreach efforts, no doubt there will be a great deal of discussion on which way to go. Should we hire a public relations/social media firm? Perhaps we should investigate hiring a freelancer? What about keeping it … Read More

The great digital transformation and Fourth Industrial Revolution we are seeing in large companies around the world is no longer confined to just mega-corporations and conglomerates. In Chile, many companies—both large and small—are in the midst of this great change. At the moment, Chile is experiencing large-scale penetration in mobile devices (71%, leading in Latin … Read More

Yelp, Trip Advisor, Glassdoor, Amazon and hundreds of other sites invite customer reviews on products, businesses and services. Less than stellar reviews can have a real financial impact on your business. According to Web Republic, products with positive reviews sell 200% more than those with no reviews. So how do you influence your customers to … Read More

Who Has to Shoot First? by Uwe Schmidt, Industrie-Contact (Hamburg, Germany) in co-operation with David Landis, Landis Communications Inc. (San Francisco, USA) Sometimes it is cumbersome to get a budget figure from a prospective client. They prefer to keep us in the dark and want us to unveil a number first. It is a bit … Read More

For the past 25 years, David Fuscus of Xenophon Strategies has worked on hurricances, plane crashes, earthquakes, tornado and other disasters. Hurricane Irma is the scariest one of them all. He has just published A How to Help Guide by a Crisis Communications Pro based on his experiences and learning what works and what doesn’t. … Read More

Internal conferences and meetings play an integral role in a company’s ability to develop business strategy, discover new industry trends, and connect employees in a way that facilitates discussion and promotes a shared vision for success. To ensure participation, it’s important to find a central location to host these events – especially if your company … Read More

For the modern business, social media is an essential tool that makes it possible to connect with your target audience in the very place where they are choosing to spend their time. There are many benefits of using social media for business including building brand presence, building credibility, developing relationships, gathering marketing research, increasing website traffic, … Read More

You’ve got the idea. Your business plan is in place. The financing is ready to roll. Now you’re ready to launch. Let the media tour begin, right? Wrong. In today’s world, launching a new company isn’t just a news release or even a media tour. There are simply too many new companies and products are … Read More

For PR pros, social media is more than just memes and foodie videos – it’s a valuable tool for connecting your brand with the media. You can be just 140 characters away from your next media placement if you follow this list of do’s and don’ts. Do 1. Watch the trends Journalists are continuously hunting … Read More

Hungary’s media consumption is rapidly shifting towards social media. And so much so that the king of all media, television – which has survived all major media transformations so far – is now being dethroned by young video makers of YouTube. By 2017, advertising potential for social platforms has become a multi-million dollar market in … Read More

At Xenophon Strategies, we’ve handled crisis communication on 13 major hurricanes for a variety of clients. Check out the new blog post on communications lessons hurricanes have to teach from David Fuscus. From planning to execution, getting ready for a natural disaster can be difficult for any organization, these principles will make it easier. http://tinyurl.com/y93tm3lo … Read More

Imagine this: You get an unexpected call in the middle of the day. Your company’s network has experienced a data breach and information for thousands of customers is now susceptible to hackers. You don’t know all the details yet, but the local news has gotten wind of the story and they are planning to run … Read More

Every day in Washington, there are dozens–or maybe hundreds–of press conferences. The grand staircase at the Capitol building is a popular spot, as is the iconic entrance to the Supreme Court after a key ruling. The White House Rose Garden is, perhaps, the most prestigious of them all. Below are three of Xenophon’s favorites: 1. … Read More

Holiday season means days away from the office for partners, clients and employees – and it means a lot of Out of Office (OOO) messages, delivered automatically to your mail inbox. Some of them are useful, some funny, some are mysteries; it all depends on what you want to achieve and how you do it. … Read More

There is a great deal of confusion about the difference between Vision and Mission Statements and they often become intertwined. As a result, they can be uninspiring, confusing or overly long making them difficult to remember, much less articulate. Philosophically Vision and Mission Statements should be separate but related, just like strategy and tactics — … Read More

During the Dallas Spring Meeting for PRGN members of the Leadership Roundtable, we were given the opportunity to get out of the hotel conference center and explore one of Dallas’ top corporate headquarters (and a Three Box Strategic Communications client) – Topgolf. While the visit was a great opportunity to cut loose and have a little … Read More

I’m a huge podcast fan – they’ve made my hour-long commute each morning not only bearable, but enjoyable. Whether I’m in the mood to be informed or entertained, there is a podcast for everything and I’ve become a loyal subscriber to a handful of shows (shout out to ‘Four Finger Discount’ the podcast that reviews … Read More

It’s now been more than a year since Britain’s seismic decision to exit the EU but here in Ireland, we still don’t know how it’s going to pan out. Late last year, a survey found that almost 60% of UK-based financial and professional service providers had begun ‘contingency planning’. Of these Brexit preppers, around three-quarters … Read More

Austria is among the world’s most stable and prospering economies, but its media landscape is comparatively small. If you can’t convince a handful of relevant journalists to tell your story to their audiences, you’re lost because you don’t have many alternative ways to go. So when you are trying to use traditional media channels for … Read More

Earlier this year, PRGN launched its Instagram account and earlier this month, Instagram takeovers,a new series where our partners will share what life is like in their city and at their agency. Instagram is unique because unlike Facebook and Twitter, the content has to be visual and it’s difficult to share links on the platform. … Read More

Known as the City of Angels, Los Angeles boasts both the second largest media market and the third busiest airport in the United States – and there is a lot more to La La Land. We also have a diverse, multi-ethnic population that makes us a cultural hub – with people from more than 180 … Read More

Weighted averages of analyst estimates are highly relevant for investor relations managers and even more relevant for investors. This shows a recent survey of cometis AG among around 500 investor relations managers, most of which are from the German-speaking countries Germany, Switzerland and Austria. The survey took place from end of March until end of … Read More

You didn’t get the media attendance you expected at your last press conference. And you’re taking heat from your boss for the weak turn-out. She wants to know why reporters didn’t attend your press event. What went wrong? There are a number of reasons that reporters cite for not showing up to press events. Often, they politely … Read More

By Valentina Giacaman – RumboCierto Chile We have witnessed recent events in which world leaders openly accuse the press, as never before. Macron in front of Putin himself accuses the Russian press, whereas a person like Trump declares himself in open warfare against the press. Has the press done something? In my country Chile, as … Read More

Everyone has at least one pet peeve that drives them crazy, and most people have a few. Like when I call someone and they answer the phone and say “I can’t talk right now, I will call you back.” Back in 2013, I actually wrote a blog post on this (and answering your phone while … Read More

This post is sponsored by ClickTime and Gould+Partners. Over-servicing among PR firms doesn’t simply mean working for nothing. It’s a lot more costly. That’s because when your firm starts to expand client services—without being adequately compensated—it has a negative effect on the rest of the operation. Indeed, the repercussions for over-servicing can make a bad … Read More

Use Of Non-deal Roadshows & Sell-Side Conferences among Senior Investor Relations Officers in German-Speaking Countries Wiesbaden, April 25, 2017 – Together with Rivel Research and the IR Club, cometis AG analyzed the use of non-deal roadshows (NDRs) and sell-side conferences. We asked IROs in key German-speaking countries: How often are you on the road? What … Read More

by David Fuscus, CEO – Xenophon Strategies The now famous United Airlines debacle of a bloodied passenger being dragged off a plane will resurface in news stories about United for years. Virtually everyone has seen the video of the crisis, from school children to captain of industries and because of it, they are paying a lot more … Read More

For those of us in the profession of public relations, the rise of fake news and the attacks on legitimate media outlets have been deeply disturbing. The Code of Ethics developed by our industry’s leading professional association, PRSA, calls out honesty as one of six, key professional values that its members uphold: We adhere to … Read More

For a communications professional working in the U.S., the last few months have been a time of intense introspective about the state of the media. The rhetoric has been thick and charged. Phrases like “alternative facts” and “fake news” are making their own headlines. White House press conferences have taken on an element of the … Read More

Did you know that nearly 70 percent of people in the U.S. have a smart phone? It’s not a huge surprise that the majority of internet access is now done through mobile devices versus desktop computers. Updating your marketing strategy to incorporate mobile users isn’t a trend that applies solely to B2C companies. Your B2B … Read More

For us PR pros, our smartphones are basically glued to our hands. Whether it’s emailing clients, checking the latest news alerts, posting to social media or searching for that contact we met at a networking event, our phones are often our most indispensable tool as communicators and help us provide even stronger service to our clients. Here’s … Read More

At the beginning of 2015, The Fearey Group moved offices and did a complete redesign of our workspace in the process. We went from private doored offices to an open, collaborative floor plan. We increased our technology infrastructure, worked on our message and created new tools in the process. And we did this for many … Read More

Social media is an essential aspect of building your brand, but building a strategy can be daunting. Here are a few quick tips for embracing social media to increase your business’s bottom line. Social media will give back to you and your business what you put into it. Take even just a small amount of … Read More

It’s any publicist’s dream to call a reporter who knows our name, which companies we represent and even remembers our die-hard Green Bay Packers fandom. It’s even better when the reporter works at a publication that is extremely valuable for our clients. Although building relationships with reporters is no small feat, it’s certainly possible – … Read More

Back in my early PR years, I would call every reporter on my media list. I would occasionally find a few reporters willing to listen to my nervous pitch and if I was lucky, someone would bite and actually write a story. When I look back now, I realize I was most likely interrupting busy … Read More

Inbound marketing is an effective way to connect with potential customers and strategically deliver information. One of the most successful tools is video. According to a recent Hub Spot article, the amount of videos posted to Facebook has grown 75% over the last year. On Twitter, visuals also produce 18% more clicks, 89% more favorites … Read More

Did your organization recently win a coveted industry award and you’re not sure how to promote it besides adding the plaque or trophy to the office? This is something most organizations struggle with. Here are five tips on how you can leverage and promote an industry award to help support communications and recruitment efforts: Add … Read More

Social media management can be time consuming and expensive. For many the real value isn’t something they can clearly see. If your goal is to turn likes into more bricks and mortar customers, or you want to get a sense of a return on your investment, consider these ideas. 1. Exclusive Offers: Typically, your social … Read More

It is always easier to reach your destination when you know where you want to go. Social media editorial calendars can map your social media strategy down a successful path. Not convinced? Here are five reasons why social media editorial calendars work for us and why we suggest adding them to your social media strategy. … Read More

Voice search is quickly becoming the way consumers are searching for information they need – especially for business. Landis Communications Inc. (LCI)’s digital marketing consultants, Mannix Marketing, have 4 great tips on how to optimize voice search with virtual assistants like Siri. If you are an iPhone user – or even if you are not … Read More

What do you think it takes to achieve exceptional results for your clients and organizations? There are things like working hard and paying attention to their needs that certainly top the list. But doesn’t that seem obvious?

Aside from the well-known highly corrupt and troubled governments in Venezuela, Bolivia and Ecuador, for the past two years (and more) Latin American countries have been involved in a series of scandals that have undermined confidence in politics and in business at corporate level.

How much of a monster is PR? It’s what we do, it’s how we pay the bills and it’s mostly what we love. But how much are we responsible for the way it can consume people and is it ultimately for the good?

The Democratic National Convention’s selection of Philadelphia for its historic convention this week is no accident. A city often overlooked between the towering shadows of New York City and Washington, D.C., Philadelphia offers convention-goers and watchers a unique experience.

I am very proud of my city and my state. After witnessing our first major sports championship in Cleveland after more than 50 years, we have witnessed another event of extraordinary magnitude. It’s the Republican National Convention.

The predominant message across all forms of German media has been one of regret about the result. Most commentators agree that a unified EU is necessary to address common European and global challenges. They also believe that the EU needs the UK.

After three decades of officiating high school sports and working in the public relations industry, Evelyn John Holtzhausen, president of our global PR network, PRGN, and head of a successful agency in Cape Town, South Africa, asked me if there were any parallels between the two.

I’ve traveled to and from the UK since the age of six. I love the British and especially their sense of humour (even though I’m aware that I will never fully understand it.) Their strong will to lead and ability to speak up if they believe something is wrong is something I truly admire.

Fellow PRGN’ers you may think that Trump vs. Clinton is the only show in town but we’ve got our own tussle happening next week. Variously known as Brexit or the vote to Remain/Leave Europe, the Referendum which will decide whether the UK stays in the European Union is massively vexing people.

In recent times, we have heard a lot about “Storytelling”, the art of using stories to communicate and connect with target audiences. Born as a purely journalistic narrative method, this set of techniques and specific skills has evolved to establish itself as a real discipline. However, there is still a lot of confusion around the definition of … Read More

Many donors are keen to make contributions as specific as possible and decide therefore upon so-called “project-based donations”. The reason behind this is the desire for the donated amount to be 100 percent utilized for a clearly specific project. These wishes are understandable but can lead to unintentional drawbacks.

The recent acquisition of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide by Marriott International may have stunned the hospitality industry but it was not totally unexpected to me. Mileage Communications was Marriott’s PR agency based in Singapore for more than 17 years, since 1994. When we were appointed, Marriott had just opened the JW Marriott Hong Kong, … Read More

by Valentina Giacaman Hazboun Founding Partner at RumboCierto For a PR firm today, it is much more difficult to try to contain a crisis for a client in a world where everything seems to be transparent and information flows through social networks in less time than previously thought. Gone are the days when companies thought … Read More

The Public Relations Global Network recently had nearly 30 agencies attend its twice-yearly international conference in Dubai representing more than 15 countries and 7 states in the U.S. The conference identified several trends in the global communications marketplace that are worth noting. Some of these takeaways include: Visual communications is almost as common as written … Read More

“It takes a whole life to build a reputation. It takes a moment to destroy it”. The concise comment by Gianni Puglisi, IULM’s dean, summarizes perfectly the media storm fallen on the automotive industry Volkswagen, accused by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of having adulterated data regarding its diesel cars’ emissions. DieselGate, as it … Read More

I attended the recent Forum on Global Leadership, hosted by the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition. Among the speakers was U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake. I didn’t realize what an African background the senator has. He has lived in Namibia, Zimbabwe and South Africa – and is fluent in Afrikaans. He, along with Lt. Gen. William “Kip” … Read More

Faced with a dwindling user base, Twitter is set to launch a new product later this year which it hopes will engage more people with the use of large-scale photos and videos to highlight trending events. Dubbed “Project Lightning,” the microblogging site is adding a new photo-centric tool that takes users to the photos, videos … Read More

Last week, I hosted a Webinar for public relations professionals throughout the world who are members of our Public Relations Global Network. The topic? Critical Thinking. Many of us, in any business, but perhaps especially in PR, fall into the day-to-day trap of working hard but operating on auto. We follow directions and get the … Read More

by Evelyn Holtzhausen President Elect, PRGN More years ago than I care to remember, when I was Cape Editor of the Sunday Times, I’d often receive a call from “head office” in Johannesburg requesting a “follow up” on a tip off or rumour that some celebrity or other had been seen swanning around Cape Town. … Read More

Professional communicators usually have lots of stories to tell – I know I do. The trick is getting the right people to listen and getting them to act. One way to think of it is moving the audience from the story to the store. Often with digital marketing, the story gets bad, or worse, no … Read More

One day when God became so angry with mankind after their vain attempts at building the tower of Babel, to be more in his likeness, he henceforth sent them the Babylonian language of confusion thereby ending their delusions at becoming gods. In actual fact, it was humans alone, the communications industry to be more precise, … Read More

2015 has been the year of a leap forward in content marketing. During the last few years, digital marketing and communications have evolved intensely and interestingly towards techniques centered on the production of quality content. The core issue in this trend is about adapting to the digital environment where users can easily choose whatever they … Read More

From the invention of the wheel to the invention of the computer, technological progress never stopped redefining the concept of proximity. Thanks to the Internet, the communications society – at least in its technological dimension -, has become a reality. As a matter of fact, the millions of connected devices circulating in the world: Smartphones, … Read More